MICHAEL RIMMER is ready to pass on his top tips to Merseyside’s aspiring young athletes.

To celebrate the launch of the Aviva UKA Academy, children aged eight to 15 are being offered the chance to take part in an exclusive training session hosted by Britain’s number one 800m runner.

The event will take place at Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Athletics Club’s Edge Hill University base on Wednesday, July 1.

Global insurer Aviva is transforming its multi-million pound grassroots sport programme after new research revealed that teenagers spend over 20 times longer in front of a television or computer screen than they do playing sport.

Aviva, sponsor of UK Athletics, report that teens are spending just two hours playing sport per week compared to 45 hours in front of the TV or computer.

In a bid to combat this trend, Aviva and UK Athletics have teamed up with Rimmer to unveil a whole new approach – the Aviva UKA Academy – designed to provide opportunities for every child in the UK to get active.

Rimmer said: “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for the Liverpool area and I want to do my bit to get youngsters involved in sport.

“Athletics has given me some fantastic opportunities and I want kids to benefit too.

“Rather than spending their time on computers they could be out on the track having fun.

“There’s something in athletics for everyone and we will have all kinds of exciting things for them to do.